The Lemon IndexAll cars · Cadillac CTS · 2016
2016 Cadillac CTS. Advanced data.
The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.
Failure mileage by system
Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 6,968 and 13,857 miles. Median 8,000, from 9 complaints with a mileage.
Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.
Complaints by system
| System | Share of complaints |
|---|---|
| Electrical | 44% |
| Engine | 33% |
| Transmission & drivetrain | 22% |
| Body structure | 22% |
| Steering | 22% |
One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.
Severity, all complaints
| Total | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Tows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.
Recall campaigns 4
26V329000 May 2026 Air Bags / Frontal / Driver Side / Inflator Module
Defect. General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, XTS, 2015-2016 Cadillac ATS, CTS, and SRX vehicles. The front-driver air bag inflator may rupture during deployment.
Risk. An inflator rupture may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy. Dealers will replace the front-driver air bag module, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed June 19, 2026. Additional letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. The manufacturer's number for this recall is N262555870. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall beca
25V175000 Mar 2025 Steering / Electric Power Assist System
Defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Cadillac CTS, 2017-2018 Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Camaro, and Chevrolet Corvette vehicles. The electric power steering (EPS) assist may fail.
Risk. A loss of power steering assist can require greater steering effort, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Dealers will replace the power steering gear assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 15, 2025. Owners may contact Cadilac customer service at 1-800-333-4223 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N252497020.
19V086000 Feb 2019 Steering / Electric Power Assist System
Defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Cadillac CTS, and 2017 Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Camaro, and Chevrolet Corvette vehicles. The electric power steering (EPS) assist system may fail.
Risk. Loss of power steering assist would require a higher steering effort, especially at lower speeds, which may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the power steering gear assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 13, 2019. GM' number for this recall is N182182760.
18V595000 Sep 2018 Seats / Front Assembly / Seat Heater/Cooler
Defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Cadillac CTS vehicles, equipped with heated front seats. The flexible heating mats in the front seats may be damaged over time, resulting in the seat heaters producing excessive heat.
Risk. In cold ambient temperatures, the seat heaters in these vehicles can turn on automatically when the vehicle is remotely started. If a damaged seat heater is turned on while no one is inside the vehicle, the damaged seat heater can overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy. GM will notify owners, and dealers will recalibrate the body control module, disabling the automatic activation of the heated seat when the vehicle is remotely started, free of charge. The recall began November 1, 2018. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for the recall is 18286.
Manufacturer communications 1577
Cadillac filed 1577 service communications for this car with NHTSA.
- Information on Transmission Adaptive Functions and Correcting Low Mileage Harsh Shifts, Slips,…
- If a vehicle comes into the dealership with a knock noise, seized engine, lower end squeak or…
Crash ratings by version
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cadillac CTS 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Cadillac CTS 4 DR RWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Cadillac CTS-V 4 DR RWD | not rated | not rated | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
Safety equipment
| Electronic stability | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Optional | Optional |
Engines and drivetrains 6
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / hwy / combined | Fuel | Fuel cost/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Auto (S8) | RWD | 21 / 30 / 25 | Premium | $3,100 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Auto (S8) | AWD | 21 / 29 / 24 | Premium | $3,200 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | Auto (S8) | RWD | 20 / 29 / 24 | Regular | $2,600 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl | Auto (S8) | AWD | 19 / 27 / 22 | Regular | $2,850 |
| 3.6L 6-cyl turbo | Auto (S8) | RWD | 16 / 24 / 19 | Premium | $4,050 |
| 6.2L 8-cyl supercharged | Auto (S8) | RWD | 14 / 21 / 17 | Premium | $4,550 |
EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.
Nearby model years
Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Updated · Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com)
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